Lesson 13
 Our Giving
The way we give is an indication of our love for God. All things
belong to God. God says in Psalms 50:10, "For every beast of the forest is
mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." Everything we have received has
come from God. God has only loaned them to us. John 3:27 says, "A man can
receive nothing unless it has been given to him from above." We can never
out-give God. In Luke 6:38 we read, "Give and it shall be given to you:
good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into
your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to
you." We give so the Lord's church can better carry out its mission here
on earth. The world must be evangelized, and the church must be edified,
and the needy must be helped.
Giving is a command of God. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "Now
concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the
churches of Galatia, so you must do also. On the first day of the week let each
one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper that there be no
collections when I come." We see the giving here was to help the poor
saints in Jerusalem. Notice also they were to make a regular collection every
first day of the week.
Because of everything God has given us, including His Son to die for us, we
should be anxious to give back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 we read, "For
if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and
not according to what he does not have." God expects us to give what we are
able to give. How can our love for God be real unless it is expressed in
our obedience and our giving? Our giving is an expression of love, and act
of praise, and sacrifice to God.
How we give is an indication of where our priorities are. Jesus says in
Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also." Where is your heart?
Since we can't out-give God, we should at least be liberal in our giving.
As we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each
one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for
God loves a cheerful giver." Our giving is to be planned. We should
not give because we feel we have to give. Nor should we resent that we need to
give to please God. We should be glad that we can give to the Lord.
We should never try to impress other people with our giving. If we do we
already have our reward. Giving needs to be a private matter. We should not seek
recognition for the things we do. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4, "Take heed
that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen of them.
Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do
a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I
say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not
let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed
may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you
openly." We should seek the approval of God and not the glory of men.
Our giving should not only include material possessions but we must first
give ourselves to God. We are told in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you
therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service." If we will first give ourselves to the Lord, we will have no
problem in being liberal in our giving. Our liberal giving is part of
worshipping God "in spirit and in truth."
Questions Lesson 13
Our Giving
(click on the button of the answer of your
choice)
1) (John 3:27) Everything we have
We have obtained it ourselves without God's help.
Some person has given it to us.
God has given to us.
2)
Nothing we have has come from God.
3) (Luke 6:38) When we give
We will receive nothing in return from God.
We will receive from God much more than we gave.
We
will receive very little from God.
4)
We can never out give God.
5) (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Giving is
A command of God.
Something we can do if we want.
Not a command of God.
6)
The church is to make a regular collection every first day of the week.
7) (2 Corinthians 8:12) When we give
We should give grudgingly.
We should give because we have to give.
We should give willingly.
8)
God does not expect us to give as we have been prospered.
9) (Matthew 6:19-21) We should lay up our treasures
In Heaven.
On the earth.
In the bank.
10)
If our treasure is in Heaven, our heart will be there also.
11) (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) God loves
One who does not give.
One who gives grudgingly.
One who gives cheerfully.
12)
We should give grudgingly and because we have to.
13) (Matthew 6:1-4) How should we do our charitable deeds?
To be seen of men.
For our own glory.
Not to be seen of men.
14)
We should give to impress people.
15) (Romans 12:1) What should we do for God?
Nothing.
Give our bodies as a living sacrifice.
As little as we can.
16)
If we first give ourselves to God, we will have no problem with giving
liberally.
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